Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-09-29
of the Neaths; / merely hold them in

ing Jail there To await her trial at the
>eptember assizes. 1t was well known
that the duke had not only offered her
pardon, but to take care of her for life
If she would say anything that would
lead to the d scovery OF the gems.
She persistently refused, therefore
she must be guilty. The magistrate
who committed her, the solicitor who
defended her, counseled her strongly TO
tell-to break her silence. The magis-
trate was so impressed by the pale.
sweet be auty Of her sorrowful face that
he went out of his way to have long
conversation with her. He pointed out
to her the difference there would be In
her lot, If she would give the clew to the
dis overy of the diamonds. She would
save herself long years of Imprisonment,
and undo most grievous wrong.
IL can not speak"
1t was the Same with her solicitor,
Mr.. { ranscombe, who was much inter
ested in the case, and offered her his
services
=. will ask no fee," he said, "unless
clear YOU
''You can not do hat" she replied;
"for l am guilty"
"You may be guilty of something
he said, "but you are not guilty Of this
CHARGE aud he saw that her pale face
flushed crimson.
"Other people may think what they
will, he said 10 her. a. know you had
nothing to do with the robbery of the
diamonds; but that in some strange
mysterious. foolish way you are screen
ing some one else, or you are sacrificing
yourself after the foolish fashion o
foolish women. Is it not SOP"
She made the same answer for him
as for every one else II am guilty"
Tell me something that might urge
in your fa' or" he pleaded something
that can make the most of. p"
You are very good and kind to me,
she said, land | am most grateful tC
you. Do you know the greatest service
the greatest favor and kindness you
can do for mep'
"No; but | will do it If you wi tel
me" he said. III would do anything
to help you"
''Do this" she said, gently; "make
no effort to save me!'
THAT is the only thing l can mo-
consent to do" he answered. Oh! il
could persuade you-if you would
pause and think what you are doing
You are ruthlessly fiinging away YOU
whole life."
ii can not see,n he said TO her on,
day, Gin what way your silence bene
fits you"
1.-THE best and wisest actions Of oul
lives" she replied. are not always the
actions that benefit ourselves.
The tumn assizes cane on, ant
Clavering was full Of excitement.
The theft of the famous Meath dia
monds had been canvassed everywhere
The trial attray ted great attention, al
though there was nothing said OF tn,
prisoner, except that she was n woman
of great beauty, and maker Of poin
lace. 1t did not saw whether she haC
always been an inhabitant of Claverins
or not. The only remark was that hel
anteccdcnts v ere not known.
The judge, impressed as every ont
else, by the beauty of the sweet, Sac
face, thought and said to himself tha
tho woman was innocent; yet, how
could he maintain that? The jury, one
and all, believed her innocent; but what
could be done against such an over
whclming mass of evidencea Ii was S,
clear. Then ii was proved, for TIT
duchess had unfortunately repeated
the conversation TO I er husband, that
on the very evening of the robbery, sh,
had talked to the duchess about the dia
monds, and the duchess had told he
where they were kept
That was the most fatal link in tn,
whole chain; there was such n straug'
coincidence in il; that, on the very eve
ming she was told where the safe ant
jewels were, tho safe should lie rifleC
and the diamonds stolen.
Then, she was alone in that par
of the house. She protested to hea
some strange sound: she profcssed ever
to have gone TO the dressing room t
see what it was, but heard and saw
nothing. ! he worst part of the evi
dence was still to come.
L on the search was made; she wa
at first quiet and m-indifl'erent-un
til the detectives attempted to open
trunk which stood in the room. Thel
she was roused to desperation; sh
showed every sign of intense fear, sh,
went down on her knees and prayed
them for Heaven $ sake, not to toucl
her box
Here came the crucial point; when
in spite of prayers and tears, her DO.
was opened, hidden in it was the por
trait of Lord Stair, set in diamonds, no
only an exceedingly valuable locket
but one that the duchess held most dear
1t was true that no other gem wa
found there, not even ring or brooch
but the theory was that the prisone
had reserved to herself these diamonds
intending to sell them; and then sh
had avowed herself guilty She ha'
refused to give any clew, she had re
fused to help in the recovery, she ha,
told her solicitor that it was useless +
defend her, she was guilty. j.
What could he saidp No jury, n
Judge in England, could have acquitte
her, neither did they like to pronounc
her guilty.
She stood Throughout the long trial
and those who saw her never forgot her
AS she stood there in her dark dress
her composed, dignified demeano- sh
looked far more like a martyr than
thief. The verdict came at last
"Guilty!" and when she heard the wor
an expression of relief came over he
face. Then the trial was over, and tn
universal oyinion was that II had bee
q perfectly just sentence.
Five years Imprisonment The pris
oner gave no s On of emotion when sh
heard it, but when Mr.. Branscombt
her solicitor, came to her afterward an
said, reproachfully-"I could have don
more for YOU il you would have above
me-" she smiled as she answered: